Administrators at Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School are investigating reports that several students were picked on and kicked last Friday because they had red hair.

According to a statement from Principal Brent Conway that was sent to the families of middle school students on Monday, students called it “Kick a Ginger Day,” influenced by a 2005 episode of the cartoon show “South Park.”

“[I]n most cases, students were subject to mild leg taps and comments from the students involved, but in several cases, students were physically kicked by students who were acting aggressively, and some students were injured as a result,” Conway wrote.

Disciplinary hearings for the students involved are being held this week. Conway also planned to meet with each family individually to discuss the incident and corresponding discipline, which is required by state law prior to handing out a suspension.

At press time, Superintendent of Schools Cyndy Taymore said that disciplinary measures had not yet been determined.

Conway said in his statement that this did not appear to be a “criminal situation,” though the district has been passing along information to the Melrose Police Department.

Going forward, the police could conceivably be asked to conduct interviews with students and, if it’s determined that a crime took place, charges could be filed by the Middlesex District Attorney’s office.

For now, though, police are simply awaiting the results of the district’s investigation.

“Right now, we’re aware of an incident and we will proceed according to the outcome of the administration’s research of what took place,” said Lt. Mark DeCroteau.

Conway was not in the building when the incidents transpired on Friday, but Assistant Principal Jaime Parsons sent out an email to families at around 3:15 p.m.

“I received numerous reports that some students had been physically kicked today because of the color of their hair,” Parsons wrote, adding that the behavior was encouraged by a TV show and that students had found references to it on Facebook.

Parsons explained how he initially responded to the reports.

“I made a school-wide announcement to clearly articulate that this behavior must stop immediately,” he wrote. “I shared my shock and disappointment regarding the behavior and explained to students that kicking someone is considered an assault.”

According to Conway, Parsons also made phone calls to the families of students involved in the “most serious” incidents.

The episode of “South Park,” "Ginger Kids," first aired in November of 2005. It was intended to satirize racial discrimination and the corresponding mob mentality, but it has inspired the creation of a Facebook page and a website endorsing Nov. 20 as “Kick a Ginger Day.”

Several other schools have reported similar “Kick a Ginger Day” incidents in the past, including A.E. Wright Middle School in Calabasas, Calif. in 2009, leading to the arrest of three students, and Wingfield Academy in Rotherham, England, in 2013.

Conway told families that the incident is disheartening, especially given the recent efforts the school has made around anti-bullying and respect for differences.

“We will redouble our efforts to teach our students how they should treat each other,” Conway wrote. “I encourage you all to have a frank and honest conversation with your children, even if they were not at all involved, and turn this into a teachable moment.”